Cotton cleaner



A. C MOODY COTTON CLEANER April 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1946 uvmvron. Arilzuz' C Mood ATTORNIYJ April 17, 1951 c MOODY 2,549,223

COTTON CLEANER Filed April 10, 1946 2 Sheets-$11661. 2

INVENTOR. Ari/1111 C Mooq'y Arrom gyls Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON CLEANER Arthur 0, Moody, Calera, Okla. Application April 10, 1946, Serial No. 661,161

'This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cotton cleaners.

It is well known that cotton delivered from the field to the gin quite often contains undesired foreign matter, such as stones, sticks, parts of plants, lumps of dirt and the like, which materially affect the ginning operation as well as the quality of the ginned cotton. Such extraneous matter must be removed as completely as possible before the seed cotton is delivered to the gins.

It is therefore one object of the inevntion to provide an improved cotton cleaner adapted for use in connection with a cotton gin for cleaning and treating the seed cotton prior to delivery to the gin.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cleaner of the character described having improved cleaning surfaces, gratelike in construction, and improved agitators cooperating with said cleaning surfaces, whereby a more efficient cleaning and treating of the cotton is obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character described improved fan type agitators having a plurality of spaced fingers arranged in staggered relation upon successive blades of the agitator fan so arranged that the paths of the fingers are spaced very closely together as the agitator is turned through a complete revolution, whereby the cotton is thoroughly turned and agitated as it is moved through the cleaner. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a cotton cleaner wherein the agitator elements are designed to actas fans and wherein the cleaner housing is provided with openings adjacent the agitators through which air may be drawn by the fan action of the agitators, whereby air currents are set up within the cleaner for agitating and assisting in conveying the cotton therein, and for removing foreign matter therefrom, the cleaner housing also having dampers for regulating the admission of air through said openings.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a cleaner having a grate-like cleaning surface wherein the bars of the grate extend in the line of travel of cotton through the cleaner,

whereby progress of such cotton through the cleaner is not retarded by the grate and also whereby the openings in the cleaning surface are sufficiently large to permit large foreign matter to drop readily through the openings in such surface to facilitate the cleaning operation.

A still further object of the invention to pro 8 claims. (01. 19-93) vide a cleaner of the character described which is provided with a manifold for delivering heated air to the cotton being cleaned for drying or treating said cotton as it is cleaned, whereby the cotton is both cleaned and conditioned ready for ginning upon passing through the cleaner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for clearing the agitator blades of cotton lint to prevent accumulations on said blades from interfering with the fan action thereof.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a cotton cleaner embodying the features of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the cleaner,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse vertical sectional view taken along the axis of one of the agitators, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the brushes which clean the agitator blades.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally the cleaning apparatus, having at one end thereof a vertical chute A through which seed cotton is passed as it is conveyed to the cotton gins (not shown).

The cleaning apparatus includes a housing B which is in substantially the form of a parallelopiped extending outwardly and downwardly at an angle with the chute, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The chute A terminates in an inclined bottom plate ll contiguous to an opening l2 in the end wall of the housing B. The housing is provided with a longitudinal duct l3 in its upper portion, which is: separated by a partition l3a from a cleaning chamber [4 which occupies the lower portion of thehousing. A vertical duct 0 extends adjacent the opposite end of the housing to receive cleaned cotton therefrom and has its upper end communicating with the opposite end of the duct I3.

A series of rotating agitators l5 which may beof any desirable diameter, are mounted on shafts [6 which extend transversely across the cleaning chamber and have their ends journaled in bearings I! mounted in longitudinally extending supporting bars It provided at the sides of the housing. The shafts are turned by means of pulleys l9 driven by belts 2!] from a suitable source of power (not shown). Although three agitators are shown, any desirable number may be utilized. Each agitator is formed by a plurality of starwheels 2| mounted in spaced relationship on the shafts and having elongate fan blades 22 mounted at the ends of the spokes of the starwheels and extending parallel; to the shaft- A plurality of agitator fingers 23 are" mounted in spaced relationship on each blade of the agitator in such a manner that the fingers on each blade are offset or staggered from the fingers on: eachof the other blades, whereby the paths of the fingers are spaced, but are close together, as the" agitator is rotated. It is preferable that the fingers on each blade be so located on the blade that they move in a path lying between the-path of the corresponding finger on the blade moving just in advance and; the path. of the. corresponding finger on the next successive blade, whereby the fingers on; successive. bladesstrike. the cotton being, cleaned ortreated at a, series of successive points transversely of the; chamber, with theresult that the; cottonis constantly agitated or rolled. at differentv points; asithe; agitator is, rotated.

The bottom. or cleaning surface of the clean-e ing chamber is. formed of. a. plurality of. spaced. arcuate bars or straps 24 having their endsrbent; around transverse rods: 2.5; which are. suitably fastened at each end. to the: side walls of the; housing. The I'OdSi25 areso: positioned,v and the. arcuate bars 24 are so; curved, thatthe. bars-form concave grate-like cleaning surfaces; conforme ing in general to the arc of rotation ofthefingers of the agitators and so arranged. that thefingers sweep just above the concave cleaning surface. The grate bars 24 disposed under eachagitator are secured at each: end tothe rods 25. between. the ends of. the. bars; of the. next adjacent. concave section of the cleaning surface, whereby said bars are spaced. apart to; provide; elongate grate. openings extending; longitudinally of thehousing and through which extraneous: matter" and debris separated from; the seed cotton may drop to a. trash hopper 26 disposed below: the cleaning chamber.

Cross bars 2! having their endsisecured to. the housing side walls. are located at a plurality of: points along each of. the. concave. cleaning; sur: face. sections. for supporting the. grate bars: 24... Each cross bar has an elongate brush 28isecuredz to one. side of. said2=bar with its bristles: extending through the'openings between the grate-bars so as to engage and shake and: tumble the; cottonv as it. passes over said: brushes. This; agitates; and turns the cottonv so; as. to. removemore. thoroughlly the dirt and foreign matter: contained. therein. Side brushes 29, secured by means. of bolts 3|] tothe side walls of. the: cleaner housing,

' are so positioned that they engage. and. brush.

off the endsof the agitator blades to prevent lint from: accumulating thereon and: interfering with thefan action of said blades. The arrangement of the brushes is clearlyillustrated in Fig. B,. which is a fragmentary view ofthe end of oneof the agitator blades and one of the cross bars.

Air inlet openings 31 are: provided inthe side walls of the housing ateach end of each. agitator for admitting air tothe interior of the housing, and as the agitators are rotated the blades: act as fans-to draw air inwardlythrough these openings-to agitate and" clean the cotton; and to assist in the movement of such cotton through the cleaner. The air currents set up by these blades also aid in keeping the blades and agitators free of lint. Damper covers 32 for the openings are pivotally secured to the housing for regulating the size of the opening to control the admission of air therethrough to the interior of the cleaner, said air passing from the housing between the grate bars along with the dirt and foreign matter removed from the cotton.

A hot air conduit 33 having a butterfly damper valve 34 mounted therein is formed with a crosshead 35 providing communication with manifolds 36 at each side of the housing. The manifolds communicate with the openings 3| at:- each end of two of the agitators to supply hot. air from the. conduit to the interior of the cleaner at these agitators for'drying or other wisetreating the cotton passing through the cleaner. Openings 31 inthe manifolds provide for. the; supplying of cold. air tov the agitators, if desired, or for regulating the heat mix.- ture ofv the air delivered through the manifolds to the? agitatora. Slide covers 38- may be; used toclose or adjust the size of the openings: 31, as; desired.

To provide; for:- by-passing the; cleaner when. the, seed, cotton. does not; need cleaning, or treat.- ing,, a. flap, valve- M is; pivoted. at. one edgeon a pin 42; mounted. in the cleaner housing adjacent. the intersection of the partition 13a with the ver-- In use, the cotton isapermittedto drop downwardly in the chute A until it; engages the inclin'ed? bottom Hz,- whereuporr. it-

deflectediinto the cleaning chamber}. and iS. directed between the: agitators I15 and. the. grate bars: 2'4 The agitators: arerotatediin a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig; 2?; and theicottonis engagedi-by the fingers 2.3- dislodge any foreign. rmitter therefrom. Since thepaths of the fingers are: relatively close together, substantially all of the: mass of cottonwithin. the: cleaner is engaged by one or more: of the agitator fingers". It is preferabl'e however, ti iat the spacing between the fingers upon the first agitator be slightly greater than that of the second and third agitators, so that thecotton is progressively: more thoroughly agitated and worked by thefingers as:v it moves through the cleaner. Dirt, debris and other extraneous matter dislodged from thecottori as it is agitated Will be carried by the air currents through. the longitudinal spaces between: the grate bars 24 into the wastehopper 2'6 from which it may be removedfin any suitable man-- ner;

Movement of the cotton through" the cleaner is'resi'sted tosome extentby the concave cleaning sections, most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. However, the blades of the" agitators act as a fan to draw air inwardlythroug-h the-air inlet openings 3+, and this air agitates the cotton in the cleaner and assists; the fingers inmoving said cotton through said cleaner. The cotton is moved successively past each of the agitators to an outlet opening 43 at the lower or left-hand end of the cleaning chamber, through which it drops into the duct C for delivery to the gins (not shown).

A cylindrical doffer brush 44 having its rows of bristles 45 spaced from one another, is rotatably mounted in the left-hand endwall, and is rotated in a clockwise direction by suitable driving-means (not shown). The brush 44 is positioned in the upperportion of the outlet opening 43 so as to provide space below the brush for the egress of cotton, and has its periphery contiguous tothe path of the fingers 23 of the left-hand agitator 15. The engagement of the fingers by the brush removes or dofis lint therefrom and the lint is passed out through the opening 43 to the duct C by the brush as it continues its rotation. The brush is of the self-cleaning variety and lint does not accumulate thereon.

Should it be desired to direct heated air into the cleaner for drying or otherwise treating the cotton being cleaned, the butterfly valve 34 in the hot air conduit is opened and the heated air may then fiow through the crosshead, the manifolds and the openings 3| to the interior of the cleaner chamber at the two agitators with which the manifold communicates. Of course, cold air may be admitted through the manifold by opening the slide cover 38 which normally closes the openings 31 formed in the manifold.

The quantity of cold air admitted through the air inlet openings 3| at the third agitator may be regulated by adjusting the pivoted damper covers 32 which are arranged to close said openings. Obviously, if desired, the hot air conduit and its associated parts may be omitted, or may be connected with only one of the agitators, or with any number of the agitators.

Since the grate bars extend in the line of movement of the cotton through the cleaner, it will be seen that they and the spaces between them do not offer material resistance to the passage of the cotton through the cleaner. Also, the spaces between the grate bars are adapted to permit dislodged extraneous matter to drop readily therethrough to the trash hopper. Such results are great improvements over cleaning surfaces made of screens, or foraminous or perforated material, and the cotton is not materially damaged in cleaning as it passes over this gratelike cleaning surface. The diameters and spacing of the grate bars may be varied to provide greater or lesser openings in the grate-like surface to accommodate cotton of different types, grades and staple lengths.

It is also particularly pointed out that the cleaner does not rely upon an extraneous source of suction or blast to move the cotton into or through the cleaner. Instead, the agitator blades act as fans to draw air into the cleaner and blow it therethrough to agitate the cotton and assist in the movement of such cotton through the cleaner. It is further to be noted that the cotton is delivered to and leaves the cleaner by gravity.

Furthermore, it will be seen that an improved agitator has been provided wherein a plurality of successively staggered fingers on the agitator thoroughly engage, turn and agitate the cotton as it is moved through the cleaner, whereby a more effective treating of the cotton is obtained.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made,

6:- within the scope of the appended claims, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure [by Letters Patent is: l

l. A cotton cleaning device including, an enclosed housing having a cleaning chamber therein and an inlet to said housing and an outlet from said chamber, means for conducting cotton from said inlet to said chamber, a cleaning surface bottom for the chamber inclined downwardly from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber and formed of a plurality of elongate curved grate bars spaced apart to provide longitudinally extending openings between said bars, an

blades acting as a fan to draw air inwardly through the inlet openings to the chamber for agitating and moving the cotton through said chamber, and means for regulating the admission of air through the openings.

2. In a cotton cleaning device, a rotatable agitator including, an elongate shaft adapted to be rotatably mounted in a cleaner, a plurality of blade supporting members mounted on said shaft, a plurality of elongate agitator blades carried by said supporting members spaced from the shaft and extending parallel thereto, said blades being rectangular in outline and having their width extending radially with respect to the shaft, the inner corner at each end of each blade being cut away to form a beveled portion on said blade whereby the fan action of the blade is enhanced,

and spaced agitator fingers carried by each agita tor blade.

3. A cotton cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, and brushes extending across the cleaning surface bottom having bristles extending into the openings between the grate bars in close proximity with the paths of rotation of the agitator fingers.

4. A cotton cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, and brushes in the housing in close proximity with the paths of rotation of the ends of the agitator blades for cleaning said ends of the blades as the latter are rotated.

5. A cotton cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner corner at each end of each agitator blade is cut away to form a beveled por tion on said blade, and brushes in the housing in close proximity with the paths of rotation of the ends of the agitator blades and with the paths of rotation of the beveled portions of the blades for cleaning the same as the blades are rotated.

6. A cotton cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, and brushes extending across the cleaning surface bottom at each end of those openings between the grate bars immediately below the agitator, said brushes having bristles extending into the openings between the grate bars in close proximity with the paths of rotation of the agitator fingers.

7. A cotton cleaning device including, an enclosed housing having a cleaning chamber thereber andaformed; of a. plurality? oi elongate,- curved,

grateibars spaced apart to; puovicle longitudinally extending openingsbetweenasaid bars; a plurality of. agitators; rotatable; the chamber;. each: havingapluralityof elongate agitator'blades spaced= about its: peripheryand. extending; transversely with; respect to: the grate bars; agitator fingers carried by said: blades and spaced with respect to: each: other so; as: to move in separate paths as the agitators are: rotated, said fingers sweeping close to: the: grate bars in planes longitudi' nally oi the graterbarsito engage and agitate; the cotton, passing; through the cleaning chamber on said grate bars; thezhousinghaving inlet;- openings formed therein, at. the ends of: the: agitators, the

agitator blades acting as: a fan to draw air: in-

wardly throughthe inlet openings to: the cha nher for-agitating and moving the cotton through said; chamber, and means for regulating the ademission of air. through the openings.

g 8.; A- cotton cleaning deviceasset forth inzclaim 7,. and: an air inlet manifold enclosing the; inlet openings; of: the: first; two agitators closest; the; housing}. inlet;

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4,230? Washhu-rn Oct. 11, 845 1:71'6 ',90& Webloj.-1 May 2, 1876 221,481, Thornf Nov.. 11, 1879 768,.40'9; Sweet, Aug. 23 1904. 1,059,270 Brown Apr. 15; 1913- 1, 92-,355- Streifl July 25 1916 1,714,953 Hancock May 28, 1929 2,979,547 Court May. 4, 1937 2,090,774 Woodford Aug. 2 1, 1937 2,202,151: Hinckley, J-r. May 28, 1940 2 ,224,625 Ahrens; Dec. 1 0, 19.40 2,421,478 Blewett; v June 3;, 1947 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 2,333 Great, Britain l ofi1901' 

